Liverpool have worked hard to make sure they have an adequate amount of strength in depth throughout their squad - including the goalkeeping department.
Alisson Becker has been firmly established as their first-choice stopper for the past four years. The decision to invest £65million in signing the Brazilian in 2018 has been significantly rewarded with five major trophies - and the possibility of more to come this season.
Alisson has been almost ever-present between the posts during his time at Liverpool but there has always had to be an able deputy. This season it’s Caoimhin Kelleher who has been the goalkeeping understudy.
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The Republic of Ireland international has made eight appearances in all competitions - and no doubt his most memorable and important moment was his role in helping the Reds win the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea.
In Alisson and Kelleher, Liverpool have two highly dependable goalkeepers who are more than capable of bailing out the defence when needed. But there’s another player at Anfield who seems to have become forgotten in recent months.
Adrian was signed by Jurgen Klopp in August 2019 to be the second-choice keeper to Alisson after Simon Mignolet was sold to Club Brugge. And in his first year on Merseyside, Adrian helped the Reds win three major trophies, and he played a key role in almost all of them.
But after making 18 appearances in his debut season, that number was reduced to just six last time out. There has been a further decline in playing time in the current campaign, with just one solitary outing to Adrian's name, which came in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup in October.
The Spaniard signed a new deal last year that kept him at Anfield. While is is unclear whether that contract runs beyond this summer, given Kelleher is now the established number two, it is likely Adrian may look to move on if he is eyeing up more first team football.
Of course, the Reds have agreed an extension with Adrian before, and there’s a chance they could do so again. His existing terms may even include an extra year beyond this summer. If not, though, then that leaves Klopp with a decision to make - does he sign a third-choice goalkeeper?
The Liverpool boss has regularly worked with a minimum of three keepers while at Anfield. His first summer transfer window saw him bring in Loris Karius and Alex Manninger, with the latter not making a single appearance in his one year at the club.
Should Adrian leave in the coming months, that would leave Alisson and Kelleher as the only two goalkeepers at the club with any first-team experience. Harvey Davies and Marcelo Pitaluga have taken part in training sessions with the senior group, of course, but it would be a big ask to expect either of them to step up and be the number three.
That leaves the option of bringing in a new goalkeeper to take Adrian’s spot. It’s not a role many would want to take, and it usually requires a certain type of player - one that is possibly nearing the end of their career and would be able to provide a wealth of experience. That was the main motivation behind the signings of Manninger and Adrian, after all.
It’s still a big if, though, that Adrian will depart at the end of the season. But if that proves to be the case, then new sporting director Julian Ward will be busy scouting the market for a suitable candidate that fits the bill.
